Mechanically operated time fuse for artillery ammunition



June 7, 1960 R. LEROY 2,939,394

MEICHANICALLY OPERATED TIME FUSE FOR ARTILLERY AMMUNITION Filed Jan. 26, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1' w....mw.

INVENTOR RENE LEROY June 7, 1960 R. LEROY 2,939,394

MECHANICALLY OPERATED TIME FUSE FOR ARTILLERY AMMUNITION Filed Jan. 26, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 w L 29L INVENTOR RENE LEROY 2,939,394 r. 'MECH'ANICALLY. OPERATED TIME'FUSE'FOR ARTILLERY AMMUNITION Ren Leroy, Le Locle, Switzerland, assignorto Dixi SSA Le Locle, Switzerland, :1 Swiss company Filed Jan. 26, 19 56, Ser. No. 561,584 Claims priority, application SwitierlandF'eb. '2, 19 s 7 Claims. (Cl. 102483 The present invention has for its object a mechanically operated time fuse for artillery ;ammunition. This time fuse is of the type provided with a clockwork actuated by moving weights which are shifted centrifugallyalong a spirally shaped raceway with a viewto driving a transmission member controlling said clockwork. According to the present invention-the transmission member and themoving weights driving the latter are mounted inside a hollow member also carrying the clockwork and adapted to be shifted 'angularly with referenceto the body of the fuse when the latter is being timed andto be locked with reference to said body of the fuse at the moment of firing.

I Suchafuse shows the advantagejthat the timing may be-performed in either direction starting from any desired timing vaiue without any modification in the starting position of the moving weights with reference to their raceways which are formed inside the angularly adjustable hollow member. 7 A p it 7 1 N V The accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example two preferred embodiments of the time fuse according to the invention. In said drawings: Fig. l is a partial axial cross-section of the fuse according to the first embodiment ofthe invention Fig. 2 is a cross-section through line II--II of Fig. 1. Fig. '3Jis a partial axial cross sectional view of a fuse according to the second embodiment. t

Fig. 4 is a cross-section through line IV -11V of Fig. 3. 7 Turning to Fig. 1 illustrating the firstrembodiment of the improved fuse, 1 designates the fuse body on which is frictionally and revolubly fitted the scale-carrying cap 2 which is rigid with a hollow member 3 forming a 'carrier for the clockwork. The firstgear or'pinion of the clockwork is shown at 4. It meshes with-a toothed wheel 5 keyed to the upper end of a central frusto-conical transmission member 6 revolubly mounted in the carrier 3 and provided along its periphery with longitudinal ball guidinggrooves 6a.

The transmission member '6 is inits turn driven by movable weights or balls 7 guided insaid longitudinal grooves of the transmission member, said balls rolling under the action of centrifugal 'force alongspirally-shaped grooves 12 formed in an inner frusto-conical recessprovided in the clockwork carrier 3.

p The lower end of the clockwork carrier Sis provided .Witha radial downwardly directed locking projection 3a.

On the other hand, the transmission member6 carries at its lower end a disc or plate 8 coaxial therewith and said disc is provided with a radial notch at 8a also shown in .Fig. 2 as registering at the start with the'projection 3a.

Underneath the disc-8, the fuse body 1 carries a radially sliding primer carrier 9, the primer 9a in which is adapted to be ignited through impact on the striker 10 when the primer carrier is shifted outwardly against'the striker under the action of centrifugal force. Normally, i.e. be-

fore timing and firing, said primer carrier 9 is locked by a rocking bolt 11 which engages when the fuse is in its safety condition the outer surface of the locking projec- .body 1.

, 2,939,394 Patented June 7, 1960 2 tion 3a and is thus held in the position illustrated for which said bolt actually locks the primer carrier.

For timing the fuse, the cap 2 should be shifted angularly to an extent corresponding to the time required before'ignition and this leads to an equal angular bodily shifting of the clockwork carrier 3, of the clockwork and of the transmission member 6 since said clockwork is locked with reference to the carrier by various bolts operated through. inertia and centrifugal force, as shown in the patent to C. Aragone No. 1,999,747 granted April 30, 1935, or the Australian patent to G. Perrenoud No. 131,792 granted March 16, 1949. It is thus readily 3P.- parent that-the timing may be performed in either direction starting from any timing value, without this modifying the relative position of the balls 7 with reference to their raceways on the carrier 3.

As a consequence of the angular shifting of the clock work carrier 3, the locking projection 3a thereon is shifted out of register with the rocking bolt 11 carried by the fuse body; since however the notch 8a in the disc 8 has been moved through the same angle asthe locking projection 3a, the locking bolt 11 is held in the position illustrated by the solid uninterrupted periphery of the disc 8.

At the moment of the firing, the clockwork is released while the clockwork carrier 3 is locked with reference to the fuse body by a centrifugally operating bolt as shown in the above mentioned patents. The clockwork is now driven through the agency of the transmission member by the balls 7. The disc 8 revolves with the transmis sion member 6 and shifts its notch 8a away from the locking projection 3a on the carrier and, after a sufficient time has elapsed, the notch 8a returns into register with the rocking bolt 11 which is urged outwardly by the primer carrier 9 and is caused to rock so as to collapse within said notch whereby the primer carrier is released and provides through its outward movement for the ignition of the primer at by the striker 10 at the moment defined .by the timing ofthe fuse for bringing as described the notch 8a back into register with the locking sion member 26, the'shape of which matches this reversal of the grooved recess'in the carrier 23. 1

The transmission member 26 carries at its lower end a heavy striker*27 adapted to impinge on and to 'ignite a primer 28a carried in the primer carrier 28 permanently securedinside a housing formed for it inside the fuse The'bottom of the chamber formedin the fuse body 1 to house the timing means is provided with an annular inner shoulder 29 which prevents the striker '27 from moving outwardly except at a point of its periphery facing the primer in front'of which a notch 29a is formed in "said shoulder through which notch the striker may move as clearly shown in Fig. 4. On the other hand, the clockwork carrier "23 'is provided atits 'lowerend with a radial downwardly directed projection 23a locking the st1iker'27 "for those positions for which the striker should not be'releas'ed, said projection registering with the notch 29a'for the inoperative condition of the fuse before timing, to hold the striker in'itsinner position.

For thezero position of the scale-carrying cap 2, the

1projection23lz is thus located in front of theheavystriker 27 and abo'vethe striker gridingnotch 29a. 'Whenth'e 'fuse is being timed, the clockwork carrier '23 is shifted angu-larly'throughthe value'corresponding to the desired delay of ignition, starting from any preceding obtained A 'A A position; As te th e clockwork, it rotates together with its carrier in which it is locked by means of bolts, not

transmissionmember "26 controlling the clockworki're-l mains stationary in its starting position with reference to the clockwork together with the balls 7. I 1

At the firing, the clockwork carrier 23 is locked a already mentioned with reference to the first embodiment according to Figs. 1 and 2 while the clockwork is released and starts rotating through the agency of the transmission member 26 which carries 7 along with its the striker 27 so that the latter is angularlyshifted away from the projection 23a along'the shoulder 29 until it reaches after a predetermined time a position facing the'gnotch 29a in the latter whereby it is now allowed to move freely outwardly and to impinge on and ignite the primer 28a- Of course, various modifications may be brought its the embodiments disclosed without widening thescope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims, In partciular, the parts of one embodiment may be associated with parts of the other and for instance the locationsof the striker and primer may be exchanged in either embodiment.

WhatIclaim is: l V 1. In a rotating mechanical fuse for an artillery missile wherein there is a clockwork mechanism controlling the speed of rotation of a transmission member, a carrier for said clockwork mechanism, means for locking said carrier from angular movement with reference to the body of said fuse upon firing said missile and means for locking said transmission member with reference to said carrier in a predetermined angular position which is released upon firing said missile, the combinationof a fuse body, said carrier having a substantially coaxial frus-to conical recess mounted within said fuse body. and being angularly movable relative to said fuse body from a zero A mined time lag, said transmission member being substantially frustoconical and being rotatably mounted on said carrier in said recess, said transmission memberhaving position to an operative position for setting a predeter- 1 its outer wall spaced from the wall of. said recess,.-a spiral-shaped raceway in the wall of said recess, .a weight movable in said raceway contacting said transmission member when subjected to centrifugal force toirot ate said transmission member within said carrier, at priming arrangement comprising two parts, a striker and a primer, a first part of said parts being fixed to said fuse body and the second of said parts being mounted to slide outward- 1y toward said first part'in a radial direction by'centrifugal force, means on said carrier holding said second part against outwardimovement, and means on said transmission member f'or releasing said means holding said second part upon termination of the set predetermined time lag and the return of said carrier to zero position. 2. In a rotatingmechanical :fuse' for'an artillery missile wherein there is a clockwork mechanism controlling the speed of rotation of a transmission member, a car'- rier for said clockworktmechanism, means for locking said'carrierfrom angular movement with reference to the body of said fuse upon firing said missile and means for locking said transmission member with'reference' to said carrier in a predetermined angular position'which is released upon firing said missile, the combination of a fuse body, said carrier having a substantially coaxial frustoconical recessmounted within said fuse body andIbeing angularly movable relative to said fuse' body from a substantially frustoconical and being rotatably mounted on said carrier in saidv recess, said transmission member having its outer wall spaced from the wall .of said recess,

a spiral shaped raceway in the wall of said recess, a,

weight movable in said raceway. contacting said transmis- 1""'r. is

sion member when subjected to centrifugal force to rotate said transmission member within said carrier, centrifugally operated firing means, means upon said transmission member, locking said firing means against operation and means for releasing said firing locking means upon termination of the set predetermined time lag and the return of said carrier to zero position.

3; In' a rotating mechanicalifuse' for an artillery missile wherein there is a clockwork mechanism controlling the speed of rotation of a transmission member, a carrier for said clockwork mechanism, means for locking said carrier from angular'movement with reference to the body of said fuse uponfiring said missile and means for locking saidtransmission member withreference to said carrier in a predetermined angular position which is released upon firing' said'rnissile, the combination of a fuse body, said carrier having a substantially coaxial frustoconical recess flaring outwardly towards the outer end of said fuse mounted within said fuse, body and being angularly movable relative to said fuse body from a zero position'to an operative position for setting a'predetermined time lag, said transmission member being substantially frustoconical flaring outwardly towards the outer end of said fuse and being rotatably mounted on said carrier in said recess, said transmission member having its outer wall spaced from the wall of said recess, a spiral-shaped raceway in the wall of said recess, a weight movable in said raceway contacting said transmission member when subjected to centrifugal force to rotate said transmission member within said carrier, a priming arrangement comprising two parts, a striker and a primer, a first part of said parts being fixed to said fuse body and the second of said parts being mounted to slide outwardly toward said first part in a radial direction by centrifugal force, means on said carrier holding said sec- 0nd part against outward movement, and means on said transmission member for releasing said means holding said second part upon termination of the set predetermined time lag and the return of said carrier to zero position.

4. In a rotating mechanical fuse for an artillery missile where in there is a clockwork mechanism controlling the speed of rotation of a transmission member, a carrier for said clockwork mechanism, means for locking said carrier from angular-movement with reference to the body of'said' fuse upon firing said missile and means for locking said transmission member with reference to said carrier in a predetermined angular'position which is released upon firing said missile, the combination of a fuse body, said carrier having a substantially coaxial frustoconical recess flaring away' from the tip of said fuse mountedwithin said fuse body and being angularly' movable relative to said fuse body from a zero position to an operative position for setting a predetermined'time lag, said transmission member being substantially frustoconicalflaring away from the tip of said "fuse and being rotatably mounted on said carrier in said recess, said transmission member having its outer wall spaced from the wall ofvsaid recess, a spiral-shaped raceway in the wall'of 'said' recess, a weight movable in said raceway contacting said transmission member when subjectedr to centrifugal force to rotate said transmission member within said carrier, at priming arranger'nentccomprising two parts, .a striker and a primer, afirst part of said parts being fixed to said fuse body and the second of said parts being mounted to slide outwardly toward said first part in a radial direction by centrifugal force, means on sile wherein there is a clockwork mechanism controlling the speed of rotation of a transmission member, a carrier for said clockwork mechanism, means for locking said carrier from angular movement with reference to the body of said fuse upon firing said missile and means for locking said transmission member with reference to said carrier in a predetermined angular position which is released upon firing said missile, the combination of a fuse body, said carrier having a substantially coaxial frustoconical recess mounted within said fuse body and being angularly movable relative to said fuse body from a zero position to an operative position for setting a predetermined time lag, said transmission member being substantially frustoconical and being rotatably mounted on said carrier in said recess, said transmission member having its outer wall spaced from the wall of said recess, a spiral-shaped raceway in the wall of said recess, a weight movable in said raceway contacting said transmission member when subjected to centrifugal force to rotate said transmission member within said carrier, a priming arrangement comprising two parts, a striker and a primer, a first part of said parts being fixed to said fuse body and the second of said parts being mounted to slide outwardly toward said first part in a radial direction by centrifugal force, a bolt pivotally secured to said fuse body engaging said second part to prevent its outward movement, means on said carrier holding said bolt in operative position for the zero position of said carrier, means fixed to said transmission member holding said bolt in operative position for all other angular positions of said transmission member outside that occupied by it with reference to said fuse body for the Zero position of the mechanism carrier before firing the missile so as to release said bolt when said transmission member has returned to zero position from its predetermined time lag position.

6. In a rotating mechanical fuse for an artillery missile wherein there is a clockwork mechanism controlling the speed of rotation of a transmission member, a carrier for said clockwork mechanism, means for locking said carrier from angular movement with reference to the body of said fuse upon firing said missile and means for locking said transmission member with reference to said carrier in a predetermined angular position which is released upon firing said missile, the combination of a fuse body, said carrier having a substantially coaxial frustoconical recess mounted within said fuse body and being angularly movable relative to said fuse body from a zero position to an operative position for setting a predetermined time lag, said transmission member being substantially frustoconical and being rotatably mounted on said carrier in said recess, said transmission member having its outer wall spaced from the wall of said recess, a spiral-shaped raceway in the wall of said recess, a weight movable in said raceway contacting said transmission member when subjected to centrifugal force to rotate said transmission member within said carrier, at priming arrangement comprising two parts, a striker and a primer, a first part being fixed to said fuse body and the second of said parts being mounted on said transmission member at a point registering with said first part for the angular position occupied by said-first transmission member for the zero position of said carrier before firing the missile and being mounted to slide outwardly towards said first part in a radial direction under the action of centrifugal force, means upon said carrier holding said second part against outward radial movement in the zero position of said carrier, an annular shoulder on said fuse body in registry with the path of movement of said second part, said shoulder being provided with a gap in radial registry with said first part to allow movement of said second part through said gap upon return of said transmission member into registry with said gap.

7. In a rotating mechanical fuse for an artillery missile wherein there is a clockwork mechanism controlling the speed of rotation of a transmission member, a carrier for said clockwork mechanism, means for locking said carrier from angular movement with reference to the body of said fuse upon firing said missile and means for locking said transmission member with reference to said carrier in a predetermined angular position which is released upon firing said missile, the combination of a fuse body, said carrier having a substantially coaxial frustoconical recess mounted within said fuse body and being angularly movable relative to said fuse body from a zero position to an operative position for setting a predetermined time lag, said transmission member being substantially frustoconical and being rotatably mounted on said carrier insaid recess, said transmission member having its outer wall spaced from the wall of said recess, a spiral-shaped raceway in the wall of said recess, a weight movable in said raceway contacting said transmission member when subjected to centrifugal force to rotate said transmission member within said carrier, centrifugally operated firing means, means locking said firing means against operation upon said transmission member and means releasing said firing locking means upon the return of said transmission member starting from its predetermined set position with reference to the mech anism carrier into the angular position occupied by it with reference to said fuse body for the zero position of the mechanism carrier before firing the missile.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 896,135 Meigs Aug. 18, 1908 969,497 Schneider Sept. 6, 1910 1,999,747 Aragone Apr. 30, 1935 2,531,121 Fink Nov. 21, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 131,792 Australia. Mar. 16, 1949 

